Letters: Alderwoman Tierney has criticism for columnist Lisa Craig

Alderwoman Elly Tierney speaks at a press conference announcing the Annapolis Historic District being put on most endangered list by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Alderwoman Elly Tierney speaks at a press conference announcing the Annapolis Historic District being put on most endangered list by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. (Joshua McKerrow / Capital Gazette file)

Lisa Craig

As recently elected Alderwoman of Ward 1, concurrent with the new Chief of Historic Preservation Roberta Laynor, I’ve gained an enormous respect for the Historic Preservation Commission and the work they do to maintain our “living museum without walls.”

I do not mean any disrespect, but to allow Lisa Craig space in your paper only creates unnecessary friction that is not productive in our moving forward. (The Capital, Oct. 28).

Craig speaks of visual clutter downtown but one could say, during her tenure as chief of historic preservation, that her focus was clearly on resiliency and flooding that the Historic District was somewhat neglected as well as her main role as chief of historic preservation. The current city staff worked endlessly to finish both her cultural landscape and cultural hazardous mitigation reports and in fact, had to pay additional funds to a third party to finish them.

I am in the process of introducing long overdue legislation (demolition by neglect, vacant commercial storefronts and sandwich boards) to protect the “beauty” she speaks of. Similar legislation under her guidance several years ago failed.

As she admitted in your paper, she left her post as she couldn’t work with the current administration and now criticizes Mayor Gavin Buckley and in turn the City Council. In the interest of unity and moving forward, please reconsider her opportunity to have such a ‘resiliency’ series in your newspaper and allow her deserved legacy to be that we are in fact trying to “weather it together.”

Though I have constructively criticized our mayor, as representative of Ward 1, we continue to work together through the challenges we face.

ALDERWOMAN ELLY TIERNEY

Annapolis

Steve Schuh

The Capital’s recent endorsement of Steve Schuh was not only disappointing, it was reckless and dismissive of the very serious complaints of the county’s teachers, firefighters, and police. I would like to provide some of what the “endorsement” left out and speak to Schuh’s character and temperment issues.

Schuh operates in a partisan manner and his lack of respect for his colleagues has received more than one rebuke. Aptly put by the Capital Editorial Board from a column earlier this year, Schuh’s “sort of my-way-or-you’re-an-idiot,” attitude prompted their appeal to him to put “away personal animosity.”

Similar to President Donald Trump, when Schuh is questioned and feels threatened, he resorts to name calling (“boneheaded” and “dumb kid”). I believe this is indicative of his true character and demonstrates his unfit temperament to lead this county. His pension for vengeance has cost the county one very respected administrative hearing officer, two county auditors, and 52 firefighter positions.

Like Trump, Schuh is loyal to those who give him unwavering support, even when the decent thing to do is walk away. The Capital seems to think this is a positive character trait.

This is actually more reflective of the fact Schuh’s ideas are as extreme as the people he admires. His lack of judgment has been further demonstrated by his continued close association with his mentor, former county executive and ex-convict, John Leopold.

Schuh, well- schooled by Leopold, carried over 18 staff members from the disgraced former county executive’s administration. According to the Capital Leopold was thrilled Schuh had helped to “carry out” his vision.

So, no thanks Capital, I will follow the firefighters, police and teachers, all of whom have endorsed Steuart Pittman for County Executive.

ADAM BLUGIS

Odenton

Endorsement

Opening the Oct. 25 issue of The Capital I saw the largest use of space for an endorsement and the largest photo on the opinion page that I’ve ever seen in a newspaper.

I’m pleased that both candidates represent themselves well. However, as an Anne Arundel County voter I’m concerned with zoning and overdevelopment. I’d like to remind others that in 2019 the General Development Plan for Anne Arundel County will be on the table as a blueprint for subsequent zoning decisions.

Stuart Pittman is interested in reflecting the desires of communities in managed growth and has displayed this interest over time and during his recent campaign. Even if permitted under current zoning, several recent building developments have not enhanced the attractiveness of our area.

Stuart Pittman has also been endorsed by a broad range of constituent groups.

This is the famous poem engraved on the base of our Statue of Liberty since 1903. In light of the current administration’s stated policies and actions, they would like to replace the poem with the following:

“Keep your own tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to be free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Do NOT send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I close and lock my borders to our door!”